From Pastor Brian ...
Recently, I was reminded of God’s tender providence. Oh, how He cares for His saints! I saw the hand of God move through the decisions of others, influencing my own, and then working to bring about an answer to an unknown request. It was no earth-shaking event, no miraculous healing, no salvation story; just a simple request for encouragement, answered by a gracious and tender God.
As wonderful as this is, it was also my own experience of a deep theological truth. What theological truth did I experience? It was the sovereign control of God over the free decisions of people to bring about His desired outcome. At the time I didn’t realize I was a participant, and I certainly didn’t feel like a robot being controlled or forced against my will. All the players did as they pleased (one affecting another), and yet God’s hand made all the moves to bring about His desired outcome in answer to a very small request for encouragement. Nothing’s too hard for God. He has power over our decisions. As Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.”
So, what happened? Nothing huge … but it is huge when we see the hand of God turning hearts wherever he will. What an amazing God we worship!
Once a month I have the privilege to minister to some very dear saints at Horton Plaza Retirement Community; hosting a service of singing and sharing from God’s Word. It’s a small group, and as I lead them in a few songs from their large print, spiral-bound hymnal I’m usually thankful that I can step away from the mic … and that their hearing is not so good. My pride wishes I weren’t leading them in singing, but my soul is so blessed by the view, as I watch them sing with eyes closed, or unable to see. I realize that even though these minds don’t remember how often they’ve told me the same stories; God enables them to sing without sight for the joy of worshipping Him.
A few weeks ago, after the service, one sweet lady told me of how God had blessed her with my presence. Funny, I know, but she told me she was a little down that morning and that she asked God if I might be the one to host that Sunday’s service … and if we might sing the hymn, “Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus.” I can see why she wanted that particular song, but I wasn’t sure why she asked God for me. I don’t know, maybe my poor singing makes her smile; but, nevertheless, I was blessed to be there, and to know that we had sung this very song. Nobody asked to sing it, but I had planned on it because I was humming it earlier that afternoon. What dawned on me later was that I wouldn’t normally choose this song, but it was on my mind as I drove to Horton Plaza because we sang it earlier that day in our own worship service. Why did the worship leader at BCC choose a hymn we don’t normally sing? Maybe I should ask and see how far the steps go back, but what I do know is that it began with a simple request from a dear saint who needed encouragement. Actually, it goes back ever further; for God knew her request before she even asked, and now we can marvel at His sweet, providential care.
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
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